Overview

The Salkantay trek is one of the most popular treks in Peru. Of course its destination, Machu Picchu, has a lot to do with that. But the trek itself is also very beautiful. You will enjoy the Peruvian Andes nature. It is not an easy trek though. The length of the trek and the altitude can be challenging. The Salkantay trek starts in Cusco. We will pick you up at your accommodation and take you to Soraypampa from where you will start the hike.

Day 1 :

Cusco – Soraypampa - Humantay lake – Quiswarniyoc private camp

Around 05:00 am, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and leave by car for approx. 2 hours to the town of Mollepata. Here we will stop to have breakfast (not included) and to pay an entrance fee of 10 soles. After breakfast, we continue by car 1 hour more to Soraypampa where we will meet with the muleteers and horse who will take our luggage. We start with an uphill hike of 2 hours to the lake of Humantay. When you arrive at the lagoon, you will have enough time to explore this beautiful place and to take pictures. The guide will explain you all the meaning of the Humantay lagoon. After a couple of hours at the lake, we start hiking down to our Quiswarniyoc exclusive camp for 2 hours to have a healthful lunch. After lunch, you have free time to explore the beautiful area and if you like more hiking, you can go up to Mirador of Salkantay. From there, you have a panoramic view of the entire region. If you are tired, you can rest in the MOUNTAIN SKY HUT, which are the cabins with roofs of glass. At night, you can enjoy the stars from your cabin. Inside you will find a pillow and a sleeping pad. If you need a sleeping bag, you can hire one for US$ 15. Please discuss this during your reservation.

Day 2 :

Quiswarniyoc private camp – Salkantay pass – Huayacmachay – Chaullay

The second day of the trek is the hardest day of the Salkantay. You will hike 20 km and pass the highest point of this trail. In the morning, the cooks will wake you up around 5:00 am with a cup of hot coca tea. After tea, you have time to repack and to have breakfast. After this, it is time to start hiking. We will go up for 3 hours until we reach the highest point of the Salkantay trail, which is 4630 meter. Once you are at the highest point, you have time to enjoy the mountains, to take pictures. The guide will explain you about the mountain gods and we will do a small Andean ritual for the mountain gods. Then you start hiking down for 2 hours to the lunch place to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch. After this, you will continue hiking down for three more hours until we reach the second camp, which is Chaullay. There we provide you with the camping equipment, tea and dinner. You can also take a hot shower from the locals for 10 Soles and buy some drinks.

Day 3 :

Chaullay - La Playa - Santa Teresa

The third day is beautiful but warm, as you have reached it to the jungle area. We will wake you up around 6:00 am with a cup of coca tea. Then we provide you with a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, around 7:00 am we will start hiking for approximately 5 hours to La Playa Sahuayaco. We will walk through the Santa Teresa Valley, which formed by the Salkantay River. You will see plantation such a coffee, bananas, avocados, Coca, passion fruit, and much more. After 5 hours of hiking, you will arrive at La Playa Sahuayaco, from where you will take local transportation for one hour to Santa Teresa, which is the third campsite. Once in the camp, you will have a delicious lunch then there is enough time to get ready for those who want to go to the beautiful hot springs of Colcampayo, which located 15 minutes car ride from the camp. The hot springs are outdoor, natural and clean water, which makes a great place for relaxing. After this, we go back to the campsite where we will welcome you with tea and a warm dinner.

Day 4 :

Santa Teresa – Lucmabamba – Llactapata - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town)

On the 4th day, you will visit Llactapata. This is the only Inca ruin that you will pass during your Salkantay trekking. From Llactapata you will have a beautiful view of Machu Picchu. For this beautiful trek, we have start very early in Santa Teresa with our breakfast, around 5:30 am. After breakfast, we go by local transportation for 45 minutes to Lucmabamba. Here starts the uphill hike for 3 hours of the original Inca trail that leads you to the Inca ruins of Llactapata. You will have enough time to enjoy the views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and you can see one more time the Salkantay mountain if you are lucky with the weather. After this, you start hiking downhill to Hidroelectrica for 2 hours to have a nutritious lunch and resting for a while.  Then you start the last part of the hike to Aguas Calientes for 3 hours more along the train track. Once you arrive in the small town, we take you to the hostel where you have time to rest and shower. Around 7:00 pm the guide will organize the last dinner at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes. After dinner, it is time to go to sleep because the next day y0ou need to start very early to go to Machu Picchu.

Day 5 :

Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) - Machu Picchu - Cusco

We get ready around 4:00 am to climb to Machu Picchu, the trek will follow an ascending path crossing the high jungle. Make sure you arrive just in time to see the spectacular sunrise. After passing the control entrance around 6:00am our group will have a private guided tour for 2 hours in the Inca citadel. Later passengers will be free to enjoy Machu Picchu on their own. Late in the afternoon, according to the departure time of the train, the group will descend walking to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. The group has to be at the train station at least 30min before departure. In Ollantaytambo everybody will be picked up and transferred to Cusco. The Salkantay Trek finishes on the square of San Francisco, Cusco.